Home Office

Visas: Ukraine

Matt Rodda: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support is being provided to severely disabled individuals applying to the Ukraine Family Scheme, who meet the eligibility requirements for the scheme, but cannot attend a visa application centre in person as a result of their disability and do not have a Ukrainian international passport which would enable them to apply online.

Kevin Foster: In the event an applicant does not have a Ukrainian passport and cannot attend a visa centre, then they should apply online and set out their circumstances which will then be taken into consideration. This will allow the case working team to make special arrangements or, should this not be possible, have discretion of issuing a waiver to the biometric requirement which will be granted on a case-by-case basis, based on the circumstances faced by the individual concerned.

Visas: Ukraine

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of altering the Ukraine Family Scheme visa application process to enable one form to be filled for one family.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office is continually making efforts to simplify the application process for Ukrainian refugees and keeps this under regular review. However, the Department does not have plans to move to a single form for members of a single family.

Visas: Applications

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure visa applications are processed within the service standard.

Kevin Foster: Performance and efficiency of visa processing is continually reviewed to ensure performance is as strong as possible.Information on our immigration routes with service standards and whether they have been processed against these standards is available as part of our transparency data, at: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) We are, however, currently flexing resources across all routes to ensure a robust response to the Ukrainian crisis while still processing standard applications within service standard wherever possible. As a result, individuals with standard applications in study, work, and family routes may experience some temporary impact to the processing of their application.

Refugees: Ukraine

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had on the support available for children arriving under the Ukraine Family Scheme visa for funding for their education.

Kevin Foster: The Ukraine Family Scheme (UFS) provides for Ukrainians to join their family members in the UK for three years, during which time they can work and access public services. This includes access to education services and benefits. These conditions have always been a part of the UFS since its inception on 4 March.The routes and visa changes which we have announced so far follow extensive engagement with the Ukrainian Government to ensure they respond directly to their needs and asks. We will continue to work closely with them going forward. We are committed to working with local government and the devolved administrations to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place.

Visas: Afghanistan

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has plans to relax visa restrictions for people fleeing Afghanistan in line with those in place for people fleeing Ukraine.

Kevin Foster: The circumstances for Ukrainian nationals fleeing the conflict in Ukraine are very different to those in Afghanistan.Our approach to visa requirements and the application process is guided by the advice we have received relating to both national security and safeguarding considerations. Based on this the Government has no plans to make changes to the visa regime for individuals fleeing Afghanistan.

Refugees: Ukraine

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support people from Ukraine wishing to apply to come to the UK who face a language barrier and require assistance with (a) translation and (b) interpreting.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office and its commercial partners have translated and published local guidance into Ukrainian for those requiring it. In addition, we have deployed several Ukrainian speaking staff to our operation in Poland.Furthermore, the webpage for the Ukrainian Family scheme and the factsheet for Ukrainians looking to apply for the Homes for Ukraine Scheme are available in English, Russian and Ukrainian.

Refugees: Ukraine

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Ukraine Family Scheme, whether the Government plans to provide support to (a) local authorities, (b) local education services and (c) local health services for refugees from Ukraine.

Kevin Foster: Nationals of Ukraine coming to the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme will be given access to work, benefits and public services as laid down in the Immigration Rules Appendix Ukraine, details of which can be found at:Immigration Rules Appendix Ukraine Scheme - Immigration Rules - Guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Refugees: Ukraine

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to protect Ukrainian children who have been separated from parents and family.

Kevin Foster: We recognise the deeply troubling circumstances faced by all Ukrainians who are caught up in this conflict, including unaccompanied minors, and the role many countries will need to play to safeguard those children.Safeguarding and protection of these vulnerable children is paramount. It will generally be in the best interests of a child to reunite with their family members in the first instance, and we have held a number of discussions with leading international organisations who are working hard to ensure appropriate processes are put in place to process and safeguard unaccompanied minors who are fleeing Ukraine.The Ukraine Family Scheme provides an immediate pathway for those Ukrainians, including unaccompanied minors, with family already settled in the UK to come to our country. They will be subject to relevant safeguarding checks. It is designed to allow as many people as possible to come to Britain and gives them immediate access to the support they need.The routes and visa changes which we have announced so far follow extensive engagement with the Ukrainian Government to ensure they respond directly to their needs and asks. We will continue to work closely with them going forward.

Refugees: Housing

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the asylum seeker cap for local authority areas will continue to be applied when seeking accommodation for refugees (a) from Ukraine and (b) not from Ukraine.

Kevin Foster: There are no limits on the number of refugees (those who have been granted asylum or humanitarian protection) which a Local Authority can house if appropriate accommodation can be identified.We continue to encourage all local authorities to work with us to support providing accommodation in their areas for those who are resettled or claim asylum in the UK.

Visas: Ukraine

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of the requirement for refugees from Ukraine to obtain visas to enter the UK on the level of risk to women and children from human traffickers.

Kevin Foster: The Government has introduced two new schemes to help Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion: the Ukraine Family Scheme launched on 4 March, and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme announced by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 14 March. These are the first of their kind to be operationalised anywhere in the world.Since 15 March, Ukrainians with valid passports applying for either the Ukraine Family Scheme or Homes for Ukraine Scheme have not needed to go to a Visa Application Centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK Instead, once their application has been considered and the appropriate checks completed, they will receive direct notification they are eligible for the scheme and can come to the UK. Individuals will still need to provide their biometrics once safely in the UK within six months of their arrival.The Government’s approach to visas for Ukrainians fleering the Russian invasion is based on the latest security advice and risk assessments. We have also built protections for vulnerable individuals into the design of the Schemes, for example requiring sponsors under Homes for Ukraine to undertake appropriate security and safeguarding checks. These checks help identify potentially concerning placements and allow us to intervene to protect women and children for the risk of human trafficking or other forms of exploitation

Asylum: Children

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which external stakeholders his Department plans to consult as part of the upcoming review and update of statutory guidance for local authorities on unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

Kevin Foster: The Department for Education (DfE) publishes guidance for local authorities on unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, which can be found at:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656429/UASC_Statutory_Guidance_2017.pdf.The department is committed to updating this guidance in due course, and will carry out a public consultation which will be available to all external stakeholders when it does so.

Refugees: Ukraine

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to put in place extra levels of protection for LBGTQI+ individuals fleeing Ukraine to the UK.

Kevin Foster: All vulnerable minorities from Ukraine such as religious, ethnic minorities those with disabilities or members of the LGBTQ+ community are afforded the same high level of protection in the UK.We have already launched two bespoke routes for the people leaving Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion, which respond directly to the needs and asks of the Ukrainian government.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure that family members of Afghan interpreters are not separated into different bridging hotels upon arrival into the UK.

Kevin Foster: Our hotel teams work to place families together in the same bridging hotels, unless there are safeguarding concerns which indicate this is not appropriate.When family members arrive at a later date, we strive to reunite them with those already here. If there is not sufficient space within a hotel to allow this immediately, the teams look to source an alternative hotel which can accommodate all immediate family members together as soon as possible. The teams will also try to accommodate extended family members together but limited capacity in the bridging estate means this is not always feasible.We will continue to work across-government, with local authorities and the voluntary sector to provide the best possible service to families whilst in bridging hotels.

Refugees: Ukraine

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of safe and legal routes to the UK from Ukraine for children and families who have been displaced.

Kevin Foster: The Government has created two routes for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian attack on their country.The Home Office’s Ukraine Family Scheme announced on 4 March, and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme announced by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities on 14 March. It is the first scheme of its kind to be operationalised anywhere in the world.The Ukraine Family Scheme is fee-free and allows British nationals and people settled in the UK to bring family members to the UK, covering immediate family members plus parents, grandparents, children over 18 and siblings, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins and in-laws. Individuals will be granted leave for three years and will be able to work and access public services and benefits.DLUHC’s Homes for Ukraine scheme will ultimately allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety, including those with no family ties to the UK. There will be no limit on the number of arrivals, and those who come to the UK on the scheme will have permission to live and work here for up to three years. They will also have access to public services and benefits. The Scheme launched on 18 March 2022.

Visas: Ukraine

Stuart C McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her oral Statement on 1 March 2022, Official Report, column 916, what her basis was for stating that an additional 100,000 Ukrainians could be eligible to come to the UK and gain access to work and public services under changes to family visa rules for Ukrainians; and what planning assumptions she has made in relation to the number that will actually apply.

Kevin Foster: The Government has set no limit to the number of people it will accept under the routes announced to support Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, but potential use of these routes is difficult to estimate. A broad estimate of potential sponsors under the Ukraine Family Scheme can be made, taking Ukrainian nationals with settlement or holding status under the EU Settlement Scheme and Ukrainians granted British citizenship as groups most likely to have familial links with Ukraine. Estimates are based on internal analysis. Data on these groups can be found in published statistics: Table_Se_D01 of https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1055252/settlement-datasets-dec-2021.xlsx Table EUSS_NON_EEA_02 ofhttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-december-2021 Ukrainian nationals at Table Cit_D02 of https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1055257/citizenship-datasets-dec-2021.xlsx The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) provides support for an unlimited additional number of people. Latest data on applications to come to or stay in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine), including totals for visa applications received and visas issued to people is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukraine-family-scheme-application-data

Visas: Ukraine

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the detailed calculations conducted by her Department underpinning the estimates that (a) 100,000 and (b) 200,000 Ukrainian nationals would be eligible to seek family visas in the UK under the respective criteria set out in her statements on 28 February and 1 March 2022.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to answer Question 133144 tabled by the hon. Member for Islington South and Finsbury on 2 March 2022.

Kevin Foster: The Government has set no limit to the number of people it will accept under the routes announced to support Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, but potential use of these routes is difficult to estimate. A broad estimate of potential sponsors under the Ukraine Family Scheme can be made, taking Ukrainian nationals with settlement or holding status under the EU Settlement Scheme and Ukrainians granted British citizenship as groups most likely to have familial links with Ukraine. Estimates are based on internal analysis. Data on these groups can be found in published statistics: Table_Se_D01 of https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1055252/settlement-datasets-dec-2021.xlsx Table EUSS_NON_EEA_02 ofhttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-quarterly-statistics-december-2021 Ukrainian nationals at Table Cit_D02 of https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1055257/citizenship-datasets-dec-2021.xlsx The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) provides support for an unlimited additional number of people. Latest data on applications to come to or stay in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine), including totals for visa applications received and visas issued to people is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukraine-family-scheme-application-data

Visas: Ukraine

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requesting military aid to civil authorities to support the (a) transportation and (b) processing of visas of Ukrainian refugees.

Kevin Foster: Commercial travel routes are widely available between safe nations which border Ukraine and the UK, which those seeking refuge can use.We have already identified, trained and deployed additional caseworking resource to respond to the high demand for the Ukraine schemes.

Department for Education

Department for Education: Public Expenditure

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will detail the losses and special payments valued at under £300,000 for his departmental group as defined by section A4.10.7 in HM Treasury's Managing Public Money for (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-20 and (c) 2020-21.

Michelle Donelan: The losses and special payments valued at under £300,000 for the departmental group for the years 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 as already held on the record of losses for the public sector organisations within the departmental group, in accordance with Managing Public Money (Annex A4.10.7), or as otherwise held for the purposes of special payment disclosures, are set out in the attached tables. These disclosures are consistent with the organisations’ obligations under the Data Protection Act 2018.148126_table (xls, 125.0KB)